Power attachment



A. C. LIN'DHOLM. POWER ATTACHMENT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. Is. 1920.

1,376,952. l Patented May 3,1923.,

FEE- FIE- l WITNESS: v I V NENOR.

TED .s'ii ES rArsr erica. i

POWER ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letter-s Patent.

Patented May 3, 1924-1.

Application filed February 13, 1920. Serial No. 358,548'.

T 0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR C. LINDHOLM, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Power Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in power attachments in the form of portable, fleXible-shaft-driven appliances for tools, such as drills and the like', and consists essentially in a chuck-provided, pistol-shaped holder adapted to be connected with a flexible-shaft, driving mechanism, including a clutch, carried by said holder, to operate the Achuck from the flexible-shaft, and trigger and trip means of control for said clutch,

together with such other parts and members as may be needed or desired in order to render the attachment complete and serviceable in every respect, all as hereinafter set forth.

The primary object of my invention is to produce an appliance of this kind which is simple in construction and operation, compact, comparatively inexpensive, convenient, strong and durable, .and not liable to get out of order.

A further object is to provide such an appliance or attachment with adequate means of control-means whereby the chuck with the attached tool can be started and stopped instantly and with the utmost ease. 'Ihe value of thi-s feature, incase of an' emergency and at all other 'times aswell, will be clearly perceived.

Still another object is to construct theattachment in such a manner that no great amount of skill is required in assembling the parts thereof, and access to 'the internal parts may be had without difficulty, so that the repair of the same, should there be need for repair, can be readily effected.

With this attachment it is possible to employ a drill, or' any other tool or implement which is capable of'being tted to and operated by said attachment, to advantage in many places that would otherwise be inaccessible to the tool or implement, or where at least it would not be practical if possible to apply the same.

Other objects. andv advantages will appear in the course of the following description. j

` bushing 8.

I attain the objects and securevv the advantages of my invention by the means or mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- F igure 1 isa side elevation of an attachment which embodies a practical'form lof my invention; Fig. 2, a central,.longitudinal, vertical section through said attachment, the upper portion of the auxiliary handle 'being broken off, and the drill, which appears in theL preceding view, being omitted; Fig. 3, a cross section through said attachment, taken on lines 3-3, looking in the direction of the associa-ted arrow, in Fig. 2; Fig.' laan end elevation of the attachment, vsuch elevation `being of the handle end; 5, a side 4elevation ofthe clutch or coupling; Fig. 6, a top plan, as it is positioned in Fig. 2, of the driving member yat the inner end of the flexible-shaftn and with which said coupling is connected, and, Fig.k 7, a top plan -of the trip.

. Similar reference numerals designate simi- 'lar parts throughout the several views.

This attachment is designed to bedriven from an electric or other motor through the mediumr of an ordinary vflexible-shaft, wherefore a fragmentary portion of such'a shaft is represented at l, and a fragmentary portion of a casing or sheath for said shaft at 2. A Jacobs chuck with ball-bearing therefor is represented at 4, and in Fig. l, I have shown a drill 5 in thev grasp of said chuck. l l,

The frame, casing, body, or holder of the attachment is shaped somewhat like a pistol exteriorly, having a barrel 6, and a handle 7. In the forward part of the barrel 6 is Behind the bushing 8 is a chamber 9 which opens through-the top of the barrel 6, a cover 10 being provided to close such opening. Back of the chamber 9, in the breech of the barrel 6 above' the handle 7, isa longitudinal passage to receive one end of the flexible-shaft sheath k2. The axes of the bushing 8 and paissagein which the .sheath 2 and 'the fieXible shaft 1 is located are in line with each other. Under the chamber 9 and opening at the top into the same isa longitudinal slot l1. A vvertical slot l2 is made in the bottom of the barrel Gi'at 'the rear end of the slot 11 into which latter said slot l2 opens. 'Behind the slots 111 and 12 is a longitudinal passage 13, the `saine being under and parallel with the passage for the sheath 2 in the breech of the barrel 6. A hollow plug 14 is tapped into the outer end of the passage 13.

The cover 10 is secured to the barrel 6 by means of a screw 15 on each side and a third screw 15 at the forward end, such screws passing `through said cover and being tapped into said barrel. Upon removing the cover 10 access is had to the parts and members in Ithe chamber 9. Y' A The part of the sheath 2 that is in the breech of the barrel 6 is secured therein by means of two screws 16 which are tapped into the top of said breech. The flexible-shaft 1 extends beyond the forward or inner end of the sheath 2 into the chamber 9, and has secured thereto, by means of a screw 17, a driver 18.' Y

A shaft 19 is journaled in the bushing 8 and extends beyond both ends of said bushing. The chuck 4 is attached tothe protruding forwardterminal of the shaft 19, and a clutchcollar 20 is secured, by means of a screw 21, to 'the inner terminal of said shaft, within the chamber 9. The .shaft 19 projects into the chamber 9 beyond the collar 20. The latter and the chuck 4 hold the shaft 19 against endwise movement. There are clutch teeth22 on the exposed face of the collar 20.

A trigger 23 is arranged to operate in the slot 12 and depends far enough below the same to be grasped by the lforeiinger ofthe hand holding the handle 7. Extending forwardly from rthe top of the Vtrigger 23, in the slot'11',is a shank 24, and this shank has an Vupwardly-projecting yoke 25 at the front end. The trigger 23, shank 24, and yoke 25 are integral and. together constitute the clutch-operating element or member.. The slot 11 is of suilicient length and the slot 12 Vof suiiicient width to permit of the necessary amount of movement on the part of the aforesaid clutch-operating member.

A spiral spring 26 is located in the passage 13'between the inner end of thehollow plug 14 and lthe back end and side of the shank 24 and trigger 23, respectively, and said' n ab n spring has -a constant tendency to force-said trigger and its integral parts forward in the slots 11 and 12. A resilient latch 27 is secured at the inner terminal to the rearterminal of the shank 24, and extends rearwardly, through the spring 26 and the plug 14, to engage with its hooked end 28 the outer end of said plug, when the-trigger 23 is drawn back against the backside of the slot 12, and consequently against the Vresiliency of said spring, and .thus retain the clutch-operating member in retracted position. Upon actuating the hook28 out of engagement with the outer end of the plug 14, the clutch-operating member is` released to the spring 26, and the latter acts atonce to thrust member forward. The hook 28 .locking engagement with the plug 14 and said latch is released. The arms of the trip 29, which are on both sides of the breech ofV the barrel 6 and project forwardly from their pivots into the vicinity of the trigger 23, haveoutwardly-extending lips or ears 31-31 at their free ends. rUpon pressing downwardly on either of the ears 31, the trip 29 is tilted in. such a manner as to raise the heel thereof and so release thelatch 27, provided such'latch be in locking position.

The driver 18 has a passage 32Y therein ywhich opens through the inner end thereof,

and there are oppositely-disposed slots 33-33 in the wall of said passage. p A clutch 34 is located inthe chamber 9, this clutch at the rear end is receivable in the passage 32 in the driver 18, having at such end oppositely-disposed lugs 35-35 that are receivable in the slots 33.r By this means the clutch 34 is driven by the driver 18, and may be moved longitudinally with- `out becoming disconnected from said driver. The forward end or face of the clutch 34 is provided with teeth 36 to engage with the teeth 22 on the collar 20. There is a passage 37 in the clutch 34 to receive the protruding, rear-terminal portion ofthe shaft 19, said passage opening through the front end of said clutch. An exterior, annular groove 28 is `provided in the clutch to receive the yoke 25.

Vhen the yoke 25 is -advanced by the action of the spring 26, said yoke carries with it the clutch 34 until the teeth 36 engage the teeth 22, and, when said-yoke is retracted, it actuates said clutch rearwardly and disengages the two sets of teeth. The length of the slotted part of the driver 18 is sufficient Vto enable'theclutch 34 to be advanced to the required extent without withdrawing the lugs 35 from the slots 33, and the length of the passage 37 Yis suflicient to enable said clutch to be retracted without becoming 6, on top, by meansof the screws 16. Ordinarily the attachment is held by the handle 7 in one hand and the trigger 23 andtrip 29 are actuated by the foreiinger or the foreiinger and thumb, respectively, of the same hand, and the handle 39 is grasped in the other hand for the purpose principally of directing the drill 5 (or other tool or irnplement) vto its place, steadying the attachment, and bringing more force to bear on said drill. Y

The general operation of the attachment will be very Well understood from the foregoing description, so that more than a brief eX- planation of th@ same needV not now be given.

The handle 7 is grasped in one hand, assuming that the drill 5 be in place and the flexible-shaft l revolving, and the trip 29 is actuated to release the trigger 23 and attached and 'connected parts and members. Immediately the spring 26, acting through the yoke 25 and intervening parts, causes the clutch 34 Which revolves constantly With the flexible shaft, Lto be thrust into engagement with the collar 20. The rotary motion of the clutch 34 is novv impartedv to the shaft'l9, the clutch 4, and the drill. The handle 39 is grasped in the other hand, the point of the drill located at the required place, and the drilling or boring operation proceeded with in the usual manner. At the end of the boring operation the drill is Withdrawn, and the operator stops the'rotation .of said drill by drawing back the trigger 23, against the resiliency of the spring 26, and so disengaging the 'clutch 34 from the collar 20. The trigger 23 is drawn back far enough to carry the latch 27 to a position Where the hook 28 can drop down into'locking engagement With the plug 14, and the resiliency of said latch causes such engagement to take place. As soon as the latch hook 28 .is in locking position the 0perator can remove his finger from the trigger 23, since the latter with attached and connected parts and members is held in retracted position by said latch. These starting and stopping operataions can be repeated indefinitely.

More or less change in the shape, size, construction, and Varran, ementl ofsome or all of the parts of this attachment may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention or exceeding the scope of what is claimed.

What l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, With a holder adapted to he attached to a flexible-shaft, revoluble tool-carrying members, and flexible-shaftdriven mechanism for said members, such mechanism consisting Vin part of a clutch, of trip-operating means to start said members through the medium of said clutch,

and trigger-operating means to stop said 2. The combinatiton, in an attachment/0f the class described, with a connected lflexible-shaft and holder, a driverl secured to said shaft,a tool-operating shaft journaled in said-holder in line With the axis of said driver and provided With a clutch member, and a clutch operatively fconnelcted with said driver,` and capablev of engaging 'and releasing said clutch member, the'. axisv of said clutch Vbeing in line vvith the aXes of said driver and tool-operating shaft, ofk a spring-pressed triggerhaving a part in operative connection With said clutch, and means to retain said trigger in retracted position against the force of its spring.

3. rlhe combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a connected flexible-shaft and holder, a driver secured to said shaft, a tool-operating shaft iournaled in Imembers also through the medium yof* said Y said holder, and provided With a clutch c member, and a clutch operatively connected with said driver and capable of engaging and disengaging said clutch member, of a spring-pressed trigger having a part in operative connection With 'said clutch, and provided with a latch for retaining said trigger in retracted position.

4. The combination, in an attachmentv of the class described, with a connected flexible-shaft and holder, a driver secured to said shaft, a tool-operating shaft journaled yin said holder, and provided with a clutch member, and a. clutchzoperatively connected with said driver, and capable-o f'engaging and disengaging `said fclutch member, of a spring-pressed trigger having a part inoperative connection With said clutch, and provided with a latchfor retaining said trigger -in retractedposition, and a trip` for said latch.

5. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a connected iiexible-shaft and holder, a drivern having a Islotted part, said driver being secured to said Aflexible-shaft, aVtool-operating shaft journaled in said'h'older, and provided With a clutch member, and a clutch for saidv member, said clutchY being in sliding relation to said driver and said tool-operating shaft,

and having a part in constant engagement With the slotted part of said driver, of means to actuate said clutch longitudinally.

6. The combination, in an attachment'of the class described, with a connected flexibleshaft and holder, a driver having a slotted part, said driver being secured to said flexible-shaft, a tool-operating shaft journaled in said holder, and provided With a clutch member, and a clutch for said member, said clutch being in sliding relation to said driver and said tool-operating shaft, vand having a part in constant engagement with the slotted part of said driver, of a spring-pressed retracting member for said clutch, said retracting member consisting in part of a trigger, andmeans to retain said last-named member in retracted position.

7.' The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a connected flexible-shaft and holder, a driver having a slotted part, said driver being secured to said flexible-shaft, a tool-operating shaft journaled in said holder, and provided with a clutch member, and a clutch for said member, said clutch being in slidingrelation to said driver and said tool-operating shaft, and having a part in constant engagement with the slotted part of said driver, of a spring-pressed retracting member for said clutch, said retracting member consisting in part-of a trigger, and a resilient latch for said last-named member when in retracted position. Y

8. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a connected flexible-shaft and holder, a driver having a slotted part, said driver being secured to said ieXible-shaft, a tool-operating shaft journaled in said holder, and provided 'with a clutch member, and a clutch for said member, said clutch being in sliding relation to said driver and said tool-operating shaft, and having a part in constant engagement with the slotted part of said driver', of a spring-pressed retracting. member for said clutch, said retracting member consisting in part of a trigger, a resilient latch for said last-named member when in retracted posiytion, and a trip pivotally attached to said holder and arranged to unlock said latch and thus release said retracting member to its spring.

9. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a slotted, holder, a tool-operating shaft ,'ournaled in said holder, and flexible s aft driven mechanism for said tool-operating shaft, said mechanism consisting in part of an eXteriorly grooved clutch, of a trigger-provided member in the slotted part of said holder, said member having a yoke which is in engagement with the grooved part of said clutch, a spring arranged to urge said member forward, and means to retain said member in retracted position. f

10. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a slotted holder,

a tool-operating shaft iournaledin *saidv holder, and fleXible-shaft-driven mechanism for said tool-operating shaft, said vmechanism consisting in part of an eXteriorly-grooved clutch, of a trigger-provided member in the slotted part of said holden;y

. hollow plugin the outer end of the bore to 'afford bearing means for said spring at one end, and a resilient latch secured at one end to said trigger-provided member and extending through said spring into said plug, and beyond the same, when the parts are retracted, to engage the outer end thereof and retain the parts in retracted position.

l1. The combination, in an attachment of the class described, with a slotted holder, a tool-operating shaft journaled in said holder, and fleXible-shaft-driven mechanism for said tool-operating shaft, saidmechanism consisting in part of an eXteriorlygrooved clutch, of a trigger-provided member in the slotted part of said holder, said member having a yoke which is in engagement with the grooved part of said clutch, a spring arranged to urge said member forward, said holder being bored to accommodate said spring, and provided with a hollow plug inthe outer end of the bore to afford bearing means Vfor said-l spring at one end, a resilient latch secured at one end to said trigger-provided member, and extending through said spring into` said plug, and

Vbeyond the same, when the parts are retracted, to engage the outer end thereof and retain the parts in retracted position, and a U- shaped trip pivotally attached to said holder in position to unlock said latch.

ARTHUR c. LINDHOLM.

Witnesses:

F. VA. CUTTER, EDWARD S. POWERS. 

